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Stadia hits Google's Play Store ahead of its debut this month
Google is set to flip the switch on its Stadia game streaming service this month. While you can play through Chrome or your TV (with Chromecast Ultra), you'll also be able to run games like Destiny 2 and Assassin's Creed: Odyssey on some Pixel devices. To help you get ready for the big day on November 19th, Google has added the Stadia app to the Google Play Store.
'SimBad' Android adware was downloaded nearly 150 million times
As much as Google has done to keep malware out of the Play Store, some notable examples still get through. Google has pulled 210 apps from the store after Check Point researchers discovered that they were infected with the same strain of adware. Nicknamed "SimBad" based on the abundance of infected simulator games, the code hid in a bogus ad-serving platform and created a back door that could install rogue apps, direct users to scam websites and show other apps in stores. Check Point believes the apps' developers were tricked into using the platform.
Google won't pull controversial Saudi government app
App store curators frequently have to walk a fine line when deciding what to ban, and Google is proof positive of this. The internet giant told California Rep. Jackie Speier that it wouldn't ban Saudi Arabia's Absher app from Google Play despite calls from Speier and other members of Congress to remove it. The mobile software lets Saudi men control and track travel permissions for women and migrant workers, leading to an outcry that Google and Apple were promoting "sixteenth century tyranny." However, Google determined that Absher didn't violate its agreements and could remain on the store.
Google pulls 29 photo apps that stole pictures and promoted scams
Google still has to deal with malicious Android apps slipping through the cracks despite improvements in its screening technology, and some of the offenders are worse than others. Case in point: the company recently pulled 29 camera and photo apps from the Play Store after it became clear they were meant to push intrusive ads, scam users and even steal content. Multiple apps will push full-screen ads, including porn, and some will use the opportunity to run phishing scams that steal your personal info under the guise of contests. Another group of camera apps were ostensibly meant to beautify your photos, but really just stole the uploaded pictures and gave users a fake update prompt.
Mattel's free 'Uno' mobile game is now available worldwide
While third-party Uno apps have been around for some time, Mattel released its own mobile version of the classic card game in certain countries and on Facebook Instant Games last year. Now, the toymaker and NetEase, through their Mattel163 studio, are rolling out the game worldwide on iOS and Android.
Samsung says Bixby will soon work with Google Maps, YouTube
Samsung announced today that Bixby will be integrated into more of its products, including its 2019 QLED TVs as well as a range of smart appliances like refrigerators, washers and AI speakers. Additionally, the company said its assistant will also be able to help drivers and passengers as it's expanding into Samsung's new Digital Cockpit. As it shared how Bixby has expanded, Samsung described the assistant as a scalable, open platform and says it now includes partners like Uber, iHeartRadio and Ticketmaster.
Google pulled 'millions' of junk Play Store ratings in one week
Google is just as frustrated with bogus app reviews as you are, and it's apparently bending over backwards to improve the trustworthiness of the feedback you see. The company instituted a system this year that uses a mix of AI and human oversight to cull junk Play Store reviews and the apps that promote them, and the results are slightly intimidating. In an unspecified recent week, Google removed "millions" of dodgy ratings and reviews, and "thousands" of apps encouraging shady behavior. There are a lot of attempts to game Android app reviews, in other words.
After Math: To all the turkeys I loved before
The holiday season has officially kicked into high gear, which means it's time to gather around the hearth, count your blessings and quietly roll your eyes as uncle Jerry launches once again into why smoke wouldn't rise straight up if the Earth weren't flat. While he's blowing smoke about thermodynamic theory, here are some examples of tech institutions finding the holiday spirit and giving back to their fans.
Google makes all movie rentals just 99 cents for Thanksgiving (updated)
If you're still looking for activities to fill your Thanksgiving weekend, Google might be able to help. The tech giant has announced the Play Store's Cyber Week deals for 2018, which include charging only 99 cents for any of its movie rentals on Turkey Day itself. For the rest of the week, you'll still be able to buy big game titles for up to 80 percent off or to get special in-app discounts. If you'd rather watch shows, you can also get discounts on major titles such as Game of Thrones and American Horror Story.
Christianity and conservationism collide in 'Pangolin's Puzzle'
Pangolin's Puzzle is a new mobile game that offers a refreshing approach to the puzzle genre -- instead of relying solely on spatial manipulation or number-based solves, it serves up written logic problems. Players manipulate patches of the environment on a grid, building landscapes according to descriptions of how each feature relates to one another. It's tricky, thoughtful and addictive, especially when you add in the adorable main character, an anteater-like animal called a pangolin.
Google names the winning games from its design challenge for teen girls
Google challenged teenage girls to create games of their own after seeing that only 23 percent of game developers for the Play Store identify as women. That, despite the fact that women make up 49 percent of users who play games from Google's app store. Now, the tech giant has released the creations of the five Change the Game Design Challenge's finalists on Google Play, starting with the Grand Prize Winner's masterpiece Mazu. It's a side-scroller featuring a shapeshifter and her journey through a dangerous forest. Christine, the game's creator, said she noticed a clear distinction between games made for boys and ones made for girls, so she created something everyone can enjoy. "I don't want to repeat this cycle of gender-based pandering in the future," she explained.
Google may offer a subscription service for Android apps
Many people aren't that fond of paying for mobile apps, but Google might have a simple solution: bundle it all in a subscription. XDA and Kieron Quinn have discovered both code references and a Google Opinion Rewards survey hinting at a "Play Pass" app subscription service. According to the survey, it might offer "hundreds of dollars" worth of apps and games for an unspecified monthly rate. There's no indication if or when Play Pass would go live, so don't count on giving it a spin just yet.
Google Play will upgrade your HD movies to 4K for free
If you purchased a movie in SD or HD from Google Play in the past, make sure to fire up the Movies & TV app as soon as you can. Google will tell you if your previous purchases are now available in 4K, and if they are, you can get the upgrade at no additional cost. As long as you have the latest version of the app, you'll be able to stream the titles in 4K quality.
Google Play update enables smaller app installs
Google has implemented changes to the Play Store, which could translate to smaller applications that are much, much kinder to your phone's storage and memory. Earlier this year, it introduced a new app publishing format called Android App Bundle that allows the Play Store to install just what the application needs to function. Now Google has announced updates to the format during its annual Play Store event that can ensure apps are at least 8 percent smaller upon download.
'Pokémon Go' AR+ mode brings life-size monsters to Android
Pokémon vary in size, from as small as 4 in. to as tall as 47 ft. But for Android users, regardless of size, Pokémon looked kind of the same. Well developer Niantic has released a new update for the Android version of Pokémon Go which incorporates the ARCore. The enhanced AR mode was released in iOS back in December of 2017. Called Pokémon Go AR+ Android users can download ARCore from the Google Play Store and finally see the scale of Pokémon out in the real world. As players walk up to Pokémon, it will scale in size and will notice player movements. Not all devices are supported, but already users on Twitter are taking photos of Pokémon, and the scale seems to be matching up correctly. pic.twitter.com/WUIGX7G0DU — 🎃Travler👻BOO👻Jackson🎃 (@SeasideQuest) October 11, 2018
Google to let more app developers offer 'Instant' trials this year
Google's just released Android 9.0 -- aka Pie -- so it seems like as good a time as any for the company to reflect on some of the platforms achievements in recent times, and to consider what's on the horizon. In a blog post, director of Google Play, Apps & Games Purnima Kochikar has outlined some of the behind-the-scenes milestones Google Play has seen this year, and hints at a more "instant" experience for app developers in the future.
Coinbase users can convert crypto into gift cards
Coinbase announced today that it has teamed up with WeGift and customers in Europe and Australia will now be able to convert their cryptocurrency into e-gift cards. Gift cards are available for companies like Nike, Uber, Google Play, Ticketmaster and Tesco and Coinbase won't collect any withdrawal fees when users buy the gift cards with their cryptocurrency balances. Customers will also get bonus credit on some of their e-gift card purchases. Gift cards for Nike, Ticketmaster and Uber offer six percent, three percent and two percent bonuses, respectively, for example.
Mobile-gaming titans keep ripping off indies
The word "casual" has long been flung out as an insult on video-game forums and social media. It's deployed to belittle the interests of people who enjoy more relaxing experiences than gritty shooters, strategy-rich online games or time-sucking RPGs. Unsurprisingly, it's most often hurled at anyone who says they like mobile games. For Voodoo, "casual" isn't an insult. It's a cash cow.
Google adds anti-tampering DRM to Android apps in the Play Store
Google has made a small change to Play Store apps that could prove a significant help to the security of your Android phone. The company is now adding a "small amount" of security metadata to Android APKs to be sure that they were distributed through the Play Store or an approved channel. This will make it possible to verify an app even you're offline, Google said, making it possible to officially add that title to your store library and receive updates through Google's portal. It's digital rights management by another name, as Android Central observed, but that doesn't necessarily mean there's reason to panic -- it may ultimately be helpful, even if there are legitimate concerns.
Paypal lets you spend money in Gmail, YouTube and more
Android Pay users have been able to dip into their PayPal accounts for a little over a year. Now, the money transfer service has partnered with Google to provide a more seamless way to use it across products like Google Play, YouTube and Gmail.
